A reader hit MissingRegistryKeyException during a service pack, but my earlier fix did not help. Here is another cause of the missing registry key and the fix.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
ENCRYPTBYPASSPHRASE: Simple Encryption and Its Weak Spot
One function in, one function out, and then the real question: where does the passphrase live? A short tour with demos you can run.
PowerShell – Get Maximum Memory of Server with dbatools
Readers asked how to get started with dbatools. Here is a simple first step: finding the maximum memory of a server with one PowerShell command.
PowerShell – How to Install dbatools?
dbatools installs as a PowerShell module on a Windows management machine. Rob Sewell, known as DBA with Beard, introduced me to it.
Transaction Log Backups Based on Log Size
Transaction log backups on a schedule can miss a burst of activity that fills the disk. This post builds a procedure that reads the log written since the last backup and takes a log backup once it passes a limit you choose. It also explains why the old habit of shrinking the log after each backup does harm.
SQL SERVER – SharePoint not Working After Failover to Another Node
After a SQL Server cluster failover, SharePoint users could not open any page, though all SQL resources were online. Here is what we found and how we fixed it.
How to Force a Parallel Execution Plan for a Query? – Interview Question of the Week #170
A customer asked how to force a Parallel Execution Plan for a query. Here are two methods, including QUERYTRACEON 8649, with a simple example.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
In my Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, you share your screen, I guide you, and we fix your biggest performance troublemakers. No passwords. No remote access.
You keep every script, and the know-how to fix it yourself next time.
Want your whole team to learn it?
My Practical Workshop has no PowerPoint, just live demos. My AI Enablement Workshop shows your team where AI saves hours, and where it quietly costs them.
Over 400 customers have worked with me this way, and not one shared a password. See all consulting options.
Who We Are
Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 24 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.
Pinal has authored 19 books and 125 Pluralsight courses. To freely share his knowledge and help others build their expertise, Pinal has also written more than 5,800 database tech articles on his blog at https://blog.sqlauthority.com.
Pinal is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1) and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2).
Nupur Dave is a social media enthusiast and an independent consultant. She primarily focuses on the database domain, helping clients build short and long-term multi-channel campaigns to drive leads for their sales pipeline.
Shaivi Pinalkumar Dave is a book author and a women’s artistic gymnast.

